Floor cleaning tool

ABSTRACT

The disclosed floor cleaning tool has a working surface with an elevated portion, sloping side surface and ribs that provide structure to an overlying cleaning sheet to improve the surface area utilized for cleaning. The ribs can also provide some stability during use of the tool. In one embodiment, the floor cleaning tool comprises a working surface of a first material having an elevated portion and a recessed point adjacent a perimeter forming a height, a sloping surface extending from the elevated point to the recessed point, and a plurality of ribs of a second material, which is more deformable than the first material, wherein the ribs are raised on the sloping surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED CASES

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application61/669,876 filed Jul. 10, 2012.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a floor cleaning tool comprising aworking surface having an elevated portion and a sloping side surface.

BACKGROUND

There are many different types of floor cleaning tools. Mops with spongeor strip of fabric are commonly used for wet cleaning floors. Broomswith bristles are used for dry cleaning. Floor cleaning tools with anoverlying cleaning sheet have become a common way of cleaning floors. Inthese types of cleaning systems, the wipe may be wet or dry for eitherwet cleaning or dry cleaning. Floor cleaning tools with overlyingcleaning sheets are pushed over the floor, and one common problem isthat the leading edge of the cleaning sheet becomes loaded with dirt anddebris while the inner portions of the cleaning sheet are not fullyutilized for cleaning. Structured sheet can be used to give localizedlift to allow for more utilization of the cleaning sheet, such asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,691,760. However, structured sheets can bemore expensive to make that flat sheets.

SUMMARY

The disclosed floor cleaning tool has a working surface with an elevatedportion, a sloping surface, and ribs that provide structure to anoverlying cleaning sheet to improve the surface area utilized forcleaning. The ribs can also provide some stability during use of thetool, which has a sloping surface.

In one embodiment, the floor cleaning tool comprises a working surfaceof a first material having an elevated portion and a recessed pointadjacent a perimeter forming a height, a sloping surface extending fromthe elevated point to the recessed point, and a plurality of ribs of asecond material, which is more deformable than the first material,wherein the ribs are raised on the sloping surface.

In one embodiment, the floor cleaning tool comprises a working surfacecomprising a first sloping side, a second sloping side, and a linearlyextending elevated portion separating the first sloping side from thesecond sloping side, a first rib on the first sloping surface,nonparallel with the elevated portion, a second rib on the secondsloping surface, nonparallel with the elevated portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a floor cleaning tool;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the floor cleaning tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is bottom view of the floor cleaning tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the floor cleaning tool with anoverlying cleaning sheet;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a second embodiment of a floor cleaning tool;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a third embodiment of a floor cleaning tool.

While the above-identified drawings and figures set forth embodiments ofthe invention, other embodiments are also contemplated, as noted in thediscussion. In all cases, this disclosure presents the invention by wayof representation and not limitation. It should be understood thatnumerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by thoseskilled in the art, which fall within the scope and spirit of thisinvention. The figures may not be drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a floor cleaning tool100. FIG. 2 is a front view of the floor cleaning tool 100 of FIG. 1.FIG. 3 is bottom view of the floor cleaning tool 100 of FIG. 1. FIG. 4is a perspective view of the floor cleaning tool 100 with an overlyingcleaning sheet 200. FIGS. 5 and 6 are alternative embodiments of theworking surface 110 of a floor cleaning tool 100, where similarreference numbers for similar item are used.

The floor cleaning tool 100 includes a working surface 110 that is thesurface intended to make contact with the surface to be cleaned. It isunderstood that a cleaning sheet 200 (FIG. 4) is applied over theworking surface 110 such that the cleaning sheet 200 is the portionmaking actual direct contact with the surface being cleaned.

The working surface 110 includes a perimeter 150. It is understood thatany number of sizes and shapes for the perimeter 150 could be used forthe cleaning tool 100, such as round, square, triangular, rectangular.In this embodiment, the perimeter 150 includes a leading edge 152forming a point 154 and a trailing edge 156 that is a concave portion158. It is understood that the floor cleaning tool 100 can be used inany number of directions but that generally the leading edge 152 is thetypical edge that is leading during cleaning. The point 154 allows thecleaning tool to easily clean into corners. The concave portion 158allows for scooping and retention of large particles of dirt or debrisand to clean up against curved surfaces such as toilets.

To better allow for full utilization of the entire working surface 100during cleaning, the working surface 110 is not overall in a flat plane,but has a sloping surface 120 to prevent dirt and debris from onlyloading at a leading edge of the cleaning sheet. The working surface 110has an elevated portion 130 and a recessed point 132. In one embodiment,the elevated portion 130 is the lowest or most protruded part on theworking surface 110. In one embodiment, the recessed point 132 isadjacent a perimeter 150 of the working surface 110. A height formsbetween the elevated portion 132 and the recessed point 132 on theworking surface 110. In one embodiment, the height is at least 1 mm; inone embodiment, the height is at least 5 mm; in one embodiment, theheight is at least 10 mm.

The elevated portion 130 can be in a number of arrangements. In oneembodiment, the elevated portion 130 is a single point on the workingsurface, such as shown in FIG. 6. In one embodiment, the elevatedportion 130 is a line, such as shown in FIG. 1, which may be a straightline, curved line, zig-zag, or any other shape. Specifically, in theembodiment shown in in FIG. 1, the elevated portion 130 continuouslyextends in a straight line from the leading edge 152 to the trailingedge 156. In this embodiment, the elevated portion 130 is a. In oneembodiment, the elevated portion 130 is a shaped area, such as shown inFIG. 5, which may be square, rectangular, circular, oval, triangular, orany number of decorative shapes.

In one embodiment, there may be one elevated portion 130, such as shownin FIGS. 1 and 6. In one embodiment, there may be more than one elevatedportion 130, such as shown in FIG. 5 where there are three elevatedportions 130. The elevated portion 130 may be centrally located at theworking surface 110 such as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6.

The elevated portion 130 may extend entirely across the working surface110, such as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. The elevated portion 130 may extendfrom front to back, side to side, diagonally, or in a nonlinear mannerIn one embodiment, the elevated portion 130 is contained in the workingsurface 110 and does not extend to the perimeter, such as shown in FIG.6, where the elevated portion 130 is a point. The sloping surface 120extends from the elevated portion 130 to the recessed point 132.

Depending on the arrangement of the elevated portion 130, the slopingsurface 120 can have a variety of configurations. For example, thesloping surface 120 may be planer. Also, one or more sloping surfaces120 maybe included. As shown in FIG. 1, the working surface 110 includesa first sloping side 120 and a second sloping side 140. The firstsloping side 120 is separated from the second sloping side 140 by theelevated portion 130, which is a straight line ridge. Extending out fromthe elevated portion 130 is the first sloping side 120, which can beplanar. Extending out from the elevated portion 130 is the secondsloping side 140, which can be planar. As can be best seen in FIG. 2,the elevated portion 130 is the lowest portion of the working surface100 with the sloping sides 120, 140 recessing upward from the ridge 130towards the perimeter 150 of the cleaning tool 100. If FIGS. 5 and 6, asthe views are bottom views, the lighter, thinner lines are intended toshow surface contouring.

In the embodiment, such as shown in FIG. 5, the working surface 110include three elevated portion 130 from which the sloping surfaces 120receding in flat planes from the elevated portion 130. In oneembodiment, such as shown in FIG. 6, the working surface 110 includes anelevated portion 130 that is a single point and the sloping surfaces 120could recede in a way from the working surface 110 is cone-line orpyramid like.

At least one rib 122 is raised on the sloping surface 120. If there aremore than one sloping surfaces 120 typically each sloping surface 120will include at least one rib 122. The ribs 122 extend outward from thesloping surface 120 to provide some stability to the working surface 110to prevent pivotal rocking about the elevated portion 130. In oneembodiment, the ribs 122 extend from the sloping surface 120 less thanthe height created between the elevated portion 130 and the recessedpoint 132. In one embodiment, the ribs 122 extend at least 0.5 mm. Inone embodiment, the ribs 122 extend at least 1 mm. In one embodiment,the ribs 122 extend at least 1.5 mm. In one embodiment, the ribs 122extend less than 50 mm. In one embodiment, the ribs 122 extend less than10 mm.

The ribs 122 can take on a number of constructions. In one embodiment,the working surface 110 is constructed of a first material and the ribs122 are constructed of a second material, which has material propertiesdifferent than the first material. In one embodiment, the ribs 122 areconstructed of a material that is more deformable than the firstmaterial of the working surface 110, which is desirable as the ribs 122make contact with the surface being cleaned. In one embodiment, the ribs122 are constructed of foam, sponge, woven, knitted, nonwoven, orresilient plastic. In one embodiment, the working surface is constructedof foam, sponge, plastic, metal, or wood. In one embodiment, unliketypical cleaning tools used with overlying cleaning sheets, the slopingsurface 120 of the cleaning tool 100 is generally rigid and does notinclude a cushioning foam. This significantly helps to reduce cost ofmanufacturing the cleaning tool 100.

The ribs 122 can take on a number of different arrangements on theworking surface 110. In one embodiment, such as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6,the ribs 122 are symmetrically arranged about the elevated portion 130to further aid in stability. In one embodiment, when the elevatedportion 130 is linear, the ribs are non parallel with the elevatedportion. This helps with stability and to provide cross direction lowpoints for catching debris.

Specifically for FIG. 1, on the first sloping side 120 is a first rib122. In this embodiment, there are three ribs 122 on the first slopingside 120. On the second sloping side 140 is a second rib 142. In thisembodiment, there are three ribs 142. As shown, the ribs 122, 142 arenon parallel with the elevated portion 130. In this embodiment, the ribs122, 142, make direct contact with the elevated portion 130. Also, withthe ribs 122, 142 are non parallel with the elevated 130 so they canprovide a block to the passage of dirt and debris from the leading edge152 to the trailing edge 156.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the ribs 122 do not make directcontact with the elevated portions 130, and are non parallel with theelevated portion 130. The ribs 130 on each sloping surface 120 areparallel with one another.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the ribs 122 do not make directcontact with the elevated portion 130. The ribs 122 are circular and aresymmetrical about the elevated portion 130. This embodiment is useful inmulti-directions.

It is understood that various combinations of the different structuresand arrangements of working surfaces, sloping surfaces, ribs, andelevated portions can be interchangeable used together.

The cleaning tool 100 typically would be used with an overlying cleaningsheet. The cleaning sheet maybe a woven, knitted, foam, nonwovenmaterial or combinations of one or more material. The cleaning sheet mayinclude oils or adhesives to aid in picking up and retaining dust, dirtand particles. The cleaning sheet may be reusable, disposable, orsemi-disposable. The cleaning sheet may be provided dry for drycleaning, wet for wet cleaning, or dry that the user adds water to forwet cleaning. If used for wet cleaning the cleaning sheet will typicallyinclude a surfactant, which may be anionic, nonionic, cationic or acombination thereof. Anionic surfactants include alcohol sulfates andsulfonates, alcohol phosphates and phosphonates, alkyl sulfates, alkylether sulfate, sulfate esters of an alkylphenoxy polyoxyethyleneethanol, alkyl monoglyceride sulfate, alkyl sulfonate, alkyl benzenesulfonate, alkyl ether sulfonate, ethoxylated alkyl sulfonate, alkylcarboxylate, alkyl ether carboxylate, alkyl alkoxy carboxylate. Nonionicsurfacetants include ethoxylated alkylphenol, ethoxylated andpropoxylated fatty alcohols, polyethylene glycol ethers of methylglucose, ethoxylated esters of fatty acids Alkyl polyglucoside—caprylglucoside (Glucopon 215UP), decyl glucoside (Glucopon 225DK),coco-glucoside (Glucopon 425N), lauryl glucoside (Glucopon 625UP), anaqueous solution of alkyl glucosides based fatty acid alcohol C9-C11(APG 325N), and sodium laureth sulfate & lauryl glucoside &cocoamidopropyl betaine (Plantapon 611L), Fatty alcoholpolyglycolether—Dephypon LS54, Dehypon LT104. Cationic surfactantsinclude aminoamide, quaternary ammonium salt,Aminoamides—stearamidopropyl ethyldimonium ethosulfate, stearamidopropylPG-dimonium chloride phosphate, Quaternary ammonium salts—cetyl ammoniumchloride, lauryl ammonium chloride, ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride.

Although specific embodiments of this invention have been shown anddescribed herein, it is understood that these embodiments are merelyillustrative of the many possible specific arrangements that can bedevised in application of the principles of the invention. Numerous andvaried other arrangements can be devised in accordance with theseprinciples by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the presentinvention should not be limited to the structures described in thisapplication, but only by the structures described by the language of theclaims and the equivalents of those structures.

What is claimed is:
 1. A floor cleaning tool comprising: a workingsurface of a first material having an elevated portion and a recessedpoint adjacent a perimeter forming a height; a sloping surface extendingfrom the elevated point to the recessed point; a plurality of ribs of asecond material, which is more deformable than the first material,wherein the ribs are raised on the sloping surface.
 2. The floorcleaning tool of claim 1, wherein the ribs are symmetrically arrangedabout the elevated portion.
 3. The floor cleaning tool of claim 1,wherein the first material is a rigid plastic, metal, or wood andwherein the second material is a foam, sponge, woven, knitted, nonwoven,or resilient plastic.
 4. The floor cleaning tool of claim 1, wherein theelevated portion is a point centrally located on the working surface. 5.The floor cleaning tool of claim 1, wherein the elevated portion is aline.
 6. The floor cleaning tool of claim 5, wherein the line is astraight line extending from across the entire working surface.
 7. Thefloor cleaning tool of claim 1, wherein the elevated portion is a shapedarea contained within the working surface.
 8. The floor cleaning toolany one of claim 1, comprising two sloping surfaces separated by theelevated portion.
 9. The floor cleaning tool any one of claim 1, whereinthe height is at least 1 mm.
 10. The floor cleaning tool any one ofclaim 1, wherein the ribs each contact the elevated portion.
 11. Thefloor cleaning tool any one of claim 1, wherein the elevated portion isa straight line, and further comprising: a first rib on a first slopingsurface, which is nonparallel with the elevated portion; a second rib ona second sloping side, which is nonparallel with the elevated portion.12. The floor cleaning tool any one of claim 1, wherein the ribs areraised on the sloping surface less than the height.
 13. A floor cleaningtool comprising: a working surface comprising a first sloping side, asecond sloping side, and a linearly extending elevated portionseparating the first sloping side from the second sloping side; a firstrib on the first sloping surface, nonparallel with the elevated portion;a second rib on the second sloping surface, nonparallel with theelevated portion.
 14. The floor cleaning tool of claim 13, wherein theworking surface is rigid and the ribs are deformable.
 15. The floorcleaning tool of claim 13, wherein the first sloping side and secondsloping side are each planar.
 16. The floor cleaning tool of claim 13,wherein the elevated portion extends entirely across the workingsurface.
 17. The floor cleaning tool of any one of claim 13, furthercomprising a plurality of discrete ribs on the first sloping side. 18.The floor cleaning tool of any one of claim 13, further comprising aplurality of discrete ribs on the second sloping side.
 19. The floorcleaning tool of claim 13, wherein the ribs are directly adjacent theelevated portion.
 20. The floor cleaning tool of claim 13, furthercomprising a cleaning sheet applied over the working surface.